VFW SABLE Post 2275 & Ladies Auxiliary
	"SPIRIT OF SABLE"
Volume 1 Issue 2	Monthly Newsletter	October 2009

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October is here and the holidays are just around the corner. You can see on our calendar all of the events we have in store. I hope that you have the opportunity to participate.

I highly recommend that all of our members read and refer to two important websites. The first is the site for our District here in San Diego County. You can get information about other events in the area. The site is: www.vfwdist1ca.org. Our District Commander is Larry Brown out of Post 2111 in Chula Vista. You can also read the “Dispatch” newsletter. The next site is for our Department Headquarters. It too has important information for everyone. It is: www.vfwca.org. Our State Commander is Jack Turner from VFW Ship 1774 in our own La Mesa. There you can read the “California Veterans” newsletter. Photos of both the District and State Commanders are on the info board in our Post.

A reminder for you “Early Bird” membership renewals: we will have the first drawing for a free life membership at this month’s meeting. It will be held on October 14th, so come join us. As always, we begin at 7pm.

I would like to state that we have the best kitchen crews in the VFW. Collectively they produce an excellent product that our members and the public return for week after week! My deep and sincere gratitude to all of you!

Thank you for your continued support of our efforts.

Yours in Comradeship,
Doug Carrington

It’s hard to believe that fall is already here! I hope you had a wonderful summer. We have a lot of activities planned for the upcoming months. Please enjoy the calendar on the website and we look forward to seeing you at the meals and events.

Thank you for all of you who attended our inspection last month and a special thank you to all of you who brought goodies. We passed our inspection with flying colors and District Junior Vice President Ellie Mello was very impressed with our auxiliary. Don’t forget the pumpkin decorating contest (decorate with a breast cancer theme) being held at our next meeting, Wednesday October 14th. Chairman Marilyn Richardes will be judging the pumpkins and there are prizes for the winners! And also don’t forget her 2nd annual “Golf for the Cure” being held on October 17th.

Thank you to Doug Carrington and Marilyn Richardes for a very moving POW/MIA ceremony last month.

The District Auxiliary Membership meeting for October is going to be held at the Encanto Post 1512 at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27th.

The next District Auxiliary Meeting will be held November 1st at 9:00 a.m. the location will be announced later so please check the calendar for November.

We will be holding a “Follies” program on November 21st. We need acts for the show. It is impersonations and we really have a lot of fun.

Please think of an act and sign up now! The sign up sheet is on the bulletin board at the club.

We have three boxes in the lounge and we are collecting for three important programs. They are “Cell Phones for Soldiers”, the Overseas Coupon Program and the “Backpack Brigade” which is school supplies for needy children in East County. Please contribute to these important programs. Also we have adopted a new unit, as our previous unit has come home from Iraq (thank goodness!) Our new unit is the National Guard unit right here in El Cajon. They will be deploying to Afghanistan in March so we will be collecting items to help support them.

Thank you for all you do, I look forward to seeing you soon!

Loyally,
Sheri Carrington
                   Sr. Vice Commander
Comrades,

As of this writing the Post Membership is at 85.37%. There have only been 21 annual members so far that have taken advantage of the two year membership offer. The first drawing for a Life Membership for those who have taken advantage of the reduced offer will be held during our meeting on October14th.

There is still time for you to have your name entered for that drawing, if you pay your dues prior to October 14th.

Keith MacDonald

Hello Comrades,

We are now into our 4th month of this V.F.W. year and things are moving fast.

We just completed our POW/MIA program on Sept. 18th and the turn out was great, thanks Commander for a great job you and your co-chairman did.

We will be having a drawing for a life membership on Oct. 14th for those who participated in the two for one membership offer.

We want to thank everyone who come down and support the post meals that are held on Monday’s and Thursday’s and every third Friday for fish and on the third Sunday the outstanding Post Breakfast.

Thanks to Bill Fiscus and Mike Thompson who support with the cooking efforts, and Mike Frontz who helps on the Sunday breakfast.

Let’s help our Sr. Vice Commander Keith MacDonald with our membership program, it’s not a one man operation, it takes all of us to make membership a success.

Yours in Comradeship,
Ed McCoy

This is a wonderful program to help our soldiers overseas to keep them warm under their helmets. If you would like to crochet a cap that a soldier can wear under their helmet for extra warmth while on duty, crochet in 100% soft wool yarn. Our Armed Forces are not allowed to wear synthetic fibers “outside the wire” – which means off the base.

Wool is inherently non-flammable and won’t melt against the skin in the event of an accident and is warm even when wet. Please include the fiber content and care instructions (the skein wrapper would be great) with any delivery of hats, so they can be properly labeled as an on-duty hat or an off-duty hat.

Materials:
Lion Brand Lion Wool (100% wool) or Lion Brand Wool-Ease, I skein (or any soft washable wool). Colors suggested by the USO-masculine browns, blues, olives, russets, black and desert tan.

Size G or H crochet hook or any size to obtain gauge.

Sizes: Average Adult

Gauge: 7sts. =2”

Pattern Stitch: Half Double Crochet (hdc).

Instructions:
Chain loosely 71 sts Join with slip st., hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch around, (70 hdc), join with slip st in first hdc., ch.1.

Next Row: Work 1hdc in each hdc around, join with slip st in 1st st, ch1. Repeat last row until hat is 4 ½” above starting ch.

Decrease Row:*Work 1hdc in next 5hdc, pull up hdc loops in each of next 2 sts (6 loops on hook), yo and draw thru all 6 loops, (1st decreased). Repeat from * around row. (10 sts., decreased)

Next Row: Work 1hdc in each hdc around.

2nd Decrease Row: *Work 1hdc in first 4 hdc, work 1 dec in next 2sts. Repeat from* around row.

Next Row: Work 1hdc in each hdc around.

Repeat last 2 rows, working 1 st less between decrease sts each decrease around, with last dec row worked on every 2 sts. Fasten off, pull tail of yarn thru to underside and tuck in, repeat for starting yarn tail.

Agent Orange Linked to New Diseases

In its recent Review of medical research into the long-term effects of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that there is a suggestive link between exposure to Agent Orange and Ischemic Heart Disease, Parkinson's Disease and certain rare cancers. In the same review, the IOM affirmed its earlier conclusion that there is a significantly increased risk of developing hypertension in those who served in Vietnam. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is calling on the VA to fully recognize these findings and award presumptive service connection for veterans suffering from these diseases who were exposed to Agent Orange. In 2000, a similar study found a link between Agent Orange and Type II Diabetes. Those findings led the VA to recognize presumptive service connection for Vietnam veterans suffering from the disease. "Based on this data, the VA should take swift action," says Gerald Manar, Deputy Director, National Veterans Service. "The VFW is pushing for full recognition of conditions linked to Agent Orange exposure, along with proper medical care and timely compensation." GUARD YOURSELF FROM THE FLU Updated guidelines in response to concerns in combating H1N1 (Swine) flu which is expected to make a comeback in the United States this fall. Here are some helpful tips to prevent both the seasonal as well as H1N1 flu: Get vaccinated. Although it is not yet clear if the H1N1 vaccination will be ready for the fall flu season, the CDC is still recommending to get a flu vaccination. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Washing your hands often will help protect you from flu germs. Get lots of rest. Make sure you are rested. Sleep deprivation may slow your ability to stay alert and make you vulnerable to the flu and other viruses. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Use a tissue to help prevent passing the germs to those around you. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. You can infect yourself by unknowingly touching something with flu germs and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Avoid direct contact with people who are sick. You'll also want to keep your distance from others if you are sick. The H1N1 flu is a brand new virus very few people have immunity therefore everyone is susceptible. Here are some helpful tips if you exhibit flu symptoms: Stay home from work or school. Get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. There are over-the-counter (OTC) medications to relieve the symptoms of the flu (but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever). Remember that serious illness from the flu is more likely in certain groups of people including people 65 and older, pregnant women, people with certain chronic medical conditions and young children. Consult your doctor early on for the best treatment, but also be aware of emergency warning signs that require urgent medical attention. It is recommended that employees and students return to the workplace or school no sooner than 24 hours after they are free of fever (without the use of fever- reducing medications). Employees who have been exposed to the H1N1 should be carefully monitored for possible flu symptoms and exercise caution to limit the possible spread of the virus. For further information and guidelines, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm.